Qatar National Bank (QNB) has shortlisted two Australian companies for the contract to build its 101-floor, 510-metre-high headquarters in Doha.

According to sources close to the project the shortlisted firms are Multiplex and Grocon.

The building will have a total built-up area of 235,000 square metres. The project will have five basement levels, 88,000 sq m of parking, 9,000 sq m for the entrance and banking halls, and 138,000 sq m of office space. When complete, it will be one of the world’s tallest buildings after the Burj Dubai.

QNB planned to award the contract in March. It received bids from at least five groups in November last year. The other bidders included a joint venture of Beijing-based China State Construction Engineering Corporation and Lebanon’s Societe d’Enterprise & de Gestion (SEG); Lebanon’s Qatar Arabian Construction Company (ACC); and a joint venture of South Korea’s Samsung Corporation, the local Midmac Contracting Company and Belgium’s Six Construct (MEED 9:12:09).

The consultancy team includes Doha-based KEO International Consultants as the project manager and Australia’s Peddle Thorp Architects.

The tower is one of three planned for Doha Corniche. The other two are Qatar General Insurance & Reinsurance Company’s (Qgirco) 50-floor tower and an 83-floor IQ Tower planned by state-run downstream energy company Industries Qatar.